SPIRE’s basketball team has experienced a phenomenal season finishing the regular season 30-4. That’s not all they have achieved – SPIRE athletes have also earned the #1 seed for their conference playoffs. The team has games against teams from all over the United States such as:

• California
• New Mexico
• Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts
• New York
• Missouri
• Florida
• Their own home state of Ohio
• And, they’ve even won against Canadian teams – making SPIRE international winners!

The team features six players who have already committed to various colleges and universities:

• Daniel Young – Cleveland St
• Daniel Pounds – Old Dominion
• Marcel Bryant – Nebraska Omaha
• Xaver Martinez – Colorado Springs
• Emondrek Ford – Eastern Florida
• Marat Belhouchet – Roberts Wesleyan

The remaining fourteen players are now gaining more interest from colleges and universities. This team is a group of young men who first met this past September. Despite the fact that they have only known each other for half a year, in that time these athletes have developed a bond as a team, have grown connected, and have learned to trust one another.

The team’s high level of focus and energy has been key to their success. Now, the entire SPIRE team and each player individually are absolutely committed to winning. Each player is focused on the team first.

SPIRE athletes hold the ideal that despite winning or losing, the mindset stays the same. It is dedication that matters and reviewing game video over and over again in order to learn from mistakes. This team seldom overlooks any opportunity to improve.

Currently, SPIRE is in high gear getting ready for the upcoming Ohio Prep Conference to be held on the campus March 2nd-4th. The athletes are operating at an extremely high level and are currently way ahead of schedule with what is the very best Post-Grad program in the country.

One of SPIRE’s post-grad players, Keynan Davis, is the team’s leading scorer, and he shoots 62% from a two-point range. From a three-point range, Davis shoots 42%. In one game at Fork Union Military Academy, Davis scored 19 points in just the first half. After that game, SPIRE coaches were contacted by 10 colleges/universities within a 24-hour timeframe.

Another example of a great SPIRE player is Marat Belhouchet, who was invited to “prospect camp” at SPIRE. He committed to attending SPIRE, assuming he was a simply second-team player. However, it became quickly apparent Marat was deserving of first-team rights, and he shoots 50% from the three-point line. He has recently received a D2 offer and committed to Roberts Wesleyan. SPIRE athletes continuously demonstrate how one should not automatically underestimate their own abilities.

SPIRE athletes WORK and PLAY! These are examples of recent high school graduates who:

• Wake up at 6 am
• Lift weights at 6:45 am
• Watch team films at 10 am
• Practice at 2 pm, and come back after dinner and shoot some more at 7 pm
• Have mental skills and academic requirements throughout the week
• Display high-level commitment

Thanks to the support these athletes receive from their coaches who are 100% dedicated to helping their team, SPIRE players consistently improve in all aspects of their sport.